Mediation of rank-related maternal effects on males throughout the lifespan

与等级相关的母性效应对男性整个生命周期的调节

• 批准号: 1121474
• 负责人: Kay Holekamp
• 金额: $ 56万
• 依托单位: Michigan State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2011-08-15 至 2016-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1121474&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Mediation; rank; related; maternal; effects

The societies of many mammals are structured by dominance hierarchies in which individual social rank determines priority of access to resources. Although high social rank is known to affect survival and reproduction among female mammals, its effects upon males are poorly understood because males usually change social groups before breeding, so it is difficult to follow them throughout the lifespan. This research follows male carnivores throughout the lifespan to test hypotheses suggesting that their maternal rank in their natal social group might affect the development of their behavior, their body condition and/or their morphology, and that each of these in turn might affect their survival and reproduction in the natural habitat. This research uses spotted hyenas as model mammals because their societies are rigidly structured by dominance relationships. Specially designed radio collars will be applied to male hyenas dispersing among multiple study groups in Kenya. Methods will include radio tracking of collared males, noninvasive monitoring of their stress hormones, and collection of observational data on their performance in standardized test situations as well as their behavioral interactions with other individuals, using bush vehicles as mobile blinds. These techniques will permit determination of whether or not social rank in the natal group affects male survival and reproductive success long after they leave their natal groups, and if so, how such effects are mediated physiologically. This field project offers unique, rare and highly valuable training opportunities for American graduate and undergraduate students in eastern Africa. In addition, this research will educate and entertain lay audiences via internet coverage, public lectures, museum exhibits and television coverage. Finally this work is expected to enhance efforts focused on the conservation of large mammalian carnivores, both in Africa and around the globe.

许多哺乳动物的社会结构是由统治等级构成的，其中个体的社会等级决定了获得资源的优先权。虽然已知高社会等级会影响雌性哺乳动物的生存和繁殖，但其对雄性的影响却知之甚少，因为雄性通常会在繁殖前改变社会群体，因此很难在整个生命周期中跟踪它们。本研究跟踪雄性食肉动物的整个生命周期，以检验假设，表明它们在纳塔尔社会群体中的母亲地位可能会影响它们的行为，身体状况和/或形态的发展，并且这些反过来又可能影响它们在自然栖息地的生存和繁殖。这项研究使用斑点鬣狗作为模型哺乳动物，因为它们的社会是由统治关系严格构建的。特别设计的无线电项圈将应用于分散在肯尼亚多个研究群体中的雄性鬣狗。方法将包括无线电跟踪领男性，非侵入性监测他们的应激激素，并收集他们在标准化测试情况下的表现以及他们与其他人的行为互动的观察数据，使用灌木车辆作为移动的百叶窗。这些技术将允许确定是否在纳塔尔组的社会地位影响男性的生存和生殖成功后很长一段时间，他们离开他们的纳塔尔组，如果是这样的话，这些影响是如何介导的生理。这个实地项目为东非的美国研究生和本科生提供了独特、罕见和非常宝贵的培训机会。 此外，这项研究将通过互联网报道，公共讲座，博物馆展览和电视报道教育和娱乐外行观众。最后，这项工作预计将加强非洲和地球仪保护大型食肉哺乳动物的努力。